Bottle spotting device



March 3,' 1953 E. N. LICHTENBERG 2,630,204

BOTTLE SPO'ITING osvrcs:

Filed Sept. 21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Z yZ.

INVENTOR.

EDWARD N. L/CHTENBERG ATTORNEY March 1953 E. N. LKCHTENBERG BOTTLE sPo'rTma DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

EDWARD N. L/CHTENBERG ATTORNE E. N. LICHTENBERG BOTTLE SPOTTING DEVICE March 3, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21, 1950 INVENTOR.

EDWARD N. LICHTENBERG [ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 BOTTLE SPOTTING DEVICE Edward N. Lichtenberg, Wilmington, DeL, as-

signor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 21, 1950, Serial No. 185,955

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle spotting devices, and particularly to bottle spotting devices that operate in conjunction with circular rotatable turret-type machines which include mechanism for the continuous sealing or labeling of bottles.

In the processing of bottled goods, the various operations, including filling, capping, labeling, the application of revenue stamps and the placement of sealing bands, are generally conducted in separate machines arranged in sequence because of the complexity of these operations. Precise orientation of the bottles in each of the separate machines is therefore important to insure that the various components, such as the labels, revenue stamps, sealing bands, or the like, are each applied to the same areas of every bottle processed and that one does not obscure or interfere with another. To facilitate this orientation, bottle manufacturers have provided small upraised spuds cast integral with the bottle along the lower outside peripheries thereof. In the operations where the filled, capped bottles are provided with their labels, stamps, seals and other trim, the bottles are customarily spotted with their spu-ds in abutment with fixed stops so located that the operation performed is always upon corresponding areas of each bottle. The spotting of the bottles must be carefully performed because of their fragile nature and mechanical devices for accomplishing this operation have not hitherto been entirely satisfactory.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle spotting device which is dependable and, at the same time, economical.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle spotting device which is positive in its action for use in conjunction with circular, rotatable turret-type bottle processing machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle spotting device that does not interfere with the particular operations which it is desired to perform upon the bottles being processed.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partially fragmentary side view in elevation of a turret-type sealing band-appling machine with certain parts broken away and others omitted for purposes of clarity. To

simplify illustration, only the band-applying mechanism of station A, Fig. 2, is shown in de- 2 tail, it being understood that the other stations are to be identical with this station.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the complete machine, showing all of the stations, taken along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation view of an alternate construction of bottle stop intended for use where the bottles being processed have interfering outside surface imperfections.

This invention will be described with particular reference to a turret-type machine for the application of sealing bands to round, filled, capped bottles, or like containers, such as those containing alcoholic beverages, for example. It will be understood, however, that the invention is equally applicable to turret-type machines for the application of labels, tax stamps, or other trim to a wide variety of bottled goods, or the like.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the band-applying machine comprises a base member l0 carrying an upright central rotatable shaft ll which rotatably supports a spacing rotor l2. Rotor I2 is connected in driving relationship with the lower ends of frames 13 by means of vertical keys and keyways 25 so that, when rotor l2 rotates, frames l3 rotate with it. In the machine described, eight of these vertical frames are shown (see Fig. 2), but it will be understood that a greater or lesser number may be provided depending upon the nature of the operation which it is desired to perform.

It will be seen from the foregoing and by referonce-particularly to Fig. 2, that frames I3 lie within the inside periphery of annular table I4 which is integral with rotor l2, so that rotor 52, frames I3 and table 14 all rotate together during operation. Drive pinion 23 powered by a motor housed within base It! turns rotor I2 and table I 4 through bull gear 24 secured to the lower end of rotor 12.

The sealing bands comprise sleeves of regenerated cellulose, or a similar material, which are slipped over the necks of the filled, capped bottles in such a manner that the sleeves overlie the juncture of the lower edge of the cap with the bottle, thus safeguarding against tampering with the contents between the time the bottles are filled and the time they reach the ultimate consumer.

It will be understood that the bottles arriving at the machine in position'to have sealing bands applied will already have been provided a with the usual labels on one or both sides, and revenue stamps applied centrally over the tops of the caps with the two ends extending vertically down the sides of the necks. The sealing bands are provided with oppositely disposed transparent portions which must overlie the opposite vertical ends of the revenue stamps so as not to obscure them in any way. The remaining areas of the band may be opaque and provided with identification or advertising matter.

The sealing bands are usually applied to the bottles by vertically acting mechanisms, such for example as those shown in Strout U. S. Patents 2,089,769 and 2,103,302. Such mechanism may be reciprocably supported on frames 3 and actuated by cam followers, only one (l5) of which is shown in Figure l. i

The upper ends of frames |3 are connected to a central cap piece (not shown) which may be threaded upon shaft so that when shaft II is rotated, and the cap piece is restrained against rotation, the clearance between the lower ends of frames I3 and table |4 may be varied to accommodate bottles of different heights (see Fig. 3).

Frames |3 are each provided with rollers l6 which track in grooves ll of upper cam ring I8. These elements also serve to support cam ring I8 when bolts |9 are loosened to permit vertical adjustment of ring I 8 with frames I3. During operation on bottles of any given height, cam ring I8 is supported by the 4 stanchions 20 fixedly attached to base In through castings 2|.

Extensions 2|a castings 2| support stationary lower cam ring 22, disposed concentric with table M, which controls the rise and fall of freely rotatable pallets 28 supported and carri d by table l4. The individual bottles to be processed are each intended to be supported by the individual pallets 28, which facilitate the rotational movement of the bottles when correctly positioned.

If preferred, pallets 28 may be dispensed with, in which case the top of table l4 may be fabricated as a single plate. But, if no movable supports are provided for the bottles, the surface of the table I4 becomes worn because of the continued movement of the bottles, and occasional surface refinishing will become necessary for best operations.

The bosses 3|, mounting pallets 28, are preferably provided with internal springs or like mechanism (not shown) which tend to urge the pallets upwardly and maintain the cam followers 29 in contact with the guiding surface so of cam ring 22 (Fig. 1).

In the loading position, followers 29 are depressed by cam ring 22 and maintain the surfaces of pallets 28 flush with the upper surface of table l4. After the bottles have been supplied to the individual pallets and spotted by the device of this invention, pallets 28 are raised by the springs hereinbefore described when followers 28 reach the appropriate position on ring 22, and the bottles are brought into abutment with the usual vertical stop (not shown), after which the sealing band is applied. Pallets 28 are again retracted to their flush position, thus releasing the banded bottles from restraint prior to their discharge from table l4.

As shown in Fig. 2, bottles 9 are continuously fed to the machine by a conveyor belt 32, individual units being spaced for introduction to table M by powered metering disk 33. Guide rods 38 carried by clamps 39 mounted on rods 48 retain the bottles against possible lateral movement off the belt 32. Advancing belt 32 then carries individual bottles to a position where they are contacted by powered feeder arm 34, which, in cooperation with fixed arcuate guide plate 35, deflects them from belt 32 across stationary bridge plate 35 onto pallets 28 of table I4. After banding is accomplished, powered rotatable discharge arm 37, acting in cooperation with the opposite edge of guide plate 35, deflects the bottles from table l4 across bridge plate 36 onto belt 32 which carries the units to any succeeding operations. In Fig. 2, bottles 9 are shown on the pallets located at stations A and B, while all other pallets are shown empty. In actual operations, it will be understood that all pallets will usually be supplied with bottles and that suitable auxiliary detection equipment will be provided for the determination of any vacancy which may for any reason exist, so that the particular frame |3 involved will not supply a band when no bottle is in position to receive it.

The spotting device of this invention comprises a belt 4| of leather, rubber, or the like, which encircles all stations of table |4 except the entrance and exit positions, and a short interval immediately following and preceding each of these positions, respectively. One end of spotting belt 4| is preferably wrapped part way around stationary sheave 42, to which it may be secured by set screw 43. Sheave 42 is fixedly attached to stationary upright 44 which is supported by frame [0 through bracket 45. The other end of belt 4| is passed around sheave 48 (Fig. 2) which is keyed to rotatable shaft 43 supported by bracket 50 carried by frame Hi. This end of belt 4| is preferably provided with a tension spring 5| which is secured to pin 52 carried by block 53. Block 53 is fixedly attached to stationary upright support 54 carried by bracket 58. Spring 5| maintains belt 4| under tension at all times, the belt being prevented from unrestri ted movement inwardly by rollers 51 mounted on studs 58 attached to the upper surface of table l4. As shown also in Fig. 2, when the positions are unloaded, belt 4| traverses the surface of pallets 28, rollers 51 being sufficiently wide to accommodate the full width of the belt even when the pallets are in their uppermost raised position.

When bottles 9 are disposed on the pallets, as indicated at stations A and B of Fig. 2, belt 4| abuts the outer surfaces of the bottles and, as the table turns clockwise, the frictional contact of the belt causes the bottles and their pallets to rotate in a counter-clockwise manner until the bottle spuds contact stops 59. At this point the bottles are oriented correctly for the application of the sealing bands. Further rotation of table |4 causes belt 4| to drag over the surfaces of the bottles, thereby retaining the locating spuds firmly against stops 59 throughout the full expanse of belt contact.

Glass bottles are sometimes improperly formed in that, for example, the sides are not always normal to the bases, which may be due to premature ejection from the forming molds before the glass has become completely set, or for other reasons. It will be understood that malformations of this type complicate correct orientation, particularly in the case of long bottles, and cradle bars 60 are therefore provided for the precise location of the upper portions of the bottles. When relatively short, squat bottles are processed, these upper locators 68 become unnecessary and stops 59 may be relied upon solely.

Cradle bars 60 are shown as secured to frames I3 by bolts 6| which are located in'horizontal slots 62 permitting adjustment of bars 60 in a radial directionto accommodate bottles of different diameters. Bars 60 may be adjusted vertically, for example, by providing the slot shown in plate 66. The bases of stops 59 may be similarly slotted for the reception of bolts 65 which secures the stops to table M. This permits setting the position of stops 59 so that they will-contact the spuds on different sizes and kinds of bottles.

Quiteoften glass bottles have slight surface imperfections such as mold lines, local depressions or elevations, or other inequalities which might'cause premature hanging'upon the stops 59 unl'ess'safeguarded against. In such cases the design of. stop shown in Fig. 4 is preferred; Here the stopis provided witha freely rotatable guide wheel lljournaled on a stud .18 disposed within a drilled hole in the body portion. A set screw '19 or' other means. may be employed to retain stud-18 inv position. Guide wheel 71 may be approximately thick with its outside edge preferably rounded to minimize the area in contact with'the bottle surface, the profile of which is indicated by the broken line. As shown, wheel 'l'l'is'mounted so that its edge projects beyond the flat abutment face of the stop a distance of about 0.005" to 0.010" at a level below that of the bottles locating spuds, so that any slight surface imperfections will clear the stop, but the projecting studs, extending outward an appreciable distance from the bottle surface, will not.

Table I4 is provided with retention rollers 63,

journaled in brackets 64, secured to table I4, by bolts 61. These rollers 63 prevent excessive circumferential displacement of the bottles around table l4. As in the case of stops 59 and cradle bars 60, brackets iii are preferably provided with slots for reception of bolts 6'! so that slight adjustment may be made in the positioning of rollers 63 against the bottles.

The position of rollers 63 with respect to stop 59 is rather critical in that, if too small an angle separates these points, there is a tendency for bottles to cam past stops 59 and therefore not spot properly. For example, with a bottle 3 outside diameter, I have found it desirable to locate rollers 63 a distance of about /4", measured outwards from a perpendicular bottle radius drawn to a radius connecting the center of shaft H with the center of the oriented bottle. This corresponds to an angle of separation between stops 59 and the points of contact of rollers 53, measured counter to the direction of bottle rotation from the centers of the oriented bottles as reference points, of about 116. The position of a typical spotted bottle is indicated by broken line representation in Figs. 1 and 3, and it should be noted that all elements which bear on the surfaces of the bottles contact these surfaces either above or below the central areas of the bottles, thus avoiding damaging contact with labels, stamps, or other trim which may have been applied to the bottles previously.

"To overcome any tendency of the bottles to topple outwardly because of the frictional contact of belt 4| and any centrifugal forces set up by the rotation of table It, a single strand 10 is provided for abutment against the necks at the juncture of the necks with the main bodies of the bottles. Strand l0 may be fabricated from a polymeric material such as a polyamide'or other materialpreferably slightly elastic and-one that will-not scratch glass,'and the ends are secured by sheaves as represented at H, similar to belt sheaves 42 (Fig. 2)- and 48 (Fi 1) and secured to the same supports 44 and 49, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1, strand 10 is secured to pin 12 of block l3 through tension spring 14 which draws it inwardly towards the center of the machine. Fork members 15 carried by each of the frames 13 limit the-inward movement of strand 10 (Figs. 1 and 3) when the pallets are not loaded, and release the strand for partial encirclement of the outside of the necks when bottles are fed to the machine. The sheaves supporting strand [0 are secured to uprights 44 and 49 (Figs. 1 and 3) by set screws, and forked members 15 are adjustable in a vertical direction to permit placement of strand 10 at the proper vertical level to accommodate bottles of different heights.

In operation, as a bottle is removed from conveyor belt 32 by feeder arm 34 and guide plate onto a pallet 28 of table 14, and against rollers 63, the bottle contacts fixed belt 4| which tends to rotate the bottle counter-clockwise as table I4 is rotated clockwise. This rotation of the bottle continues until stop 59 engages the fixed spud on the outer surface of the bottle, and the bottle is then in position for applying the sealing band by the usual feeding mechan sm provided for this purpose.

The spotting device of this invention is rapid and positive in operation, successive bottles being accurately spotted before they arrive at the point indicated by station B of Fig. 2, so that band applying operations may safely commence with this station and continue through succeeding stations until the discharge point is reached. Belt 4i performs a second desirable function in that, after it has spotted each bottle in turn, it retains each in its correct position in advance of any other subsequent operations.

It will be understood from the foregoing disclosure that this invention may be, modified as to details of belt arrangement, materials from which the belt might be fabricated, the individual placement of the various elements which bear against the bottles during and after the spotting operation, and in various other ways, within the scope of the invention, and I do not intend to be limited except to the extent set forth in the appended patent claims.

I claim:

1. In a turret-type machine having a rotatable, bottle supporting table with loading and removing regions, for performing operations on bottles provided with locating spuds thereon, a bottle spotting device comprising, in combination, a length of contractile flexible belt disposed above the level of the bottle-supporting table and near the outer edge of said table in a position to abut the outside surfaces of said bottles, said belt extending around said table for at least a portion of the circumference except into the bottle-loading and bottle-removing regions, stop means carried by said table disposed in the vicinity of the inside periphery of said table for abutment against the locating spuds on said bottles when said bottles are oriented into operating position, means carried by said table for limiting circumferential movement of said bottles out of oriented position with respect to said table, means restraining said belt against collapse about the central portion of said machine when said machine is free of bottles, and stationary supports for attachment with the ends of said length of belt. 2. A bottle spotting device according to claim.

wherein the means limiting circumferential movement of said bottles with respect to said table are disposed at an angle of not less than about. 116 degrees, measured from said stop means counter to the direction of bottle rotation from the centers of said bottles when said bottles abut said stop means.

3. Ina turret-type machine having a rotatable, bottle supporting table with loading and removing regions, for performing operations on bottles provided with locating spuds thereon, a bottle spotting device comprising, in combination, a length of contractile flexible belt disposed above the level of the bottle-supporting table and near the outer edge of said table in a position to abut the lower outside surfaces of said bottles, said. belt extending around said table for at least a portion of the circumference except into the bottle-loading and bottle-removing regions, stop means carried by said table disposed in the vicinity of the inside periphery of said table for abutment against the locating spuds on said bottles when said bottles are oriented into operative position, means carried by said table limiting circumferential movement of said bottles out of oriented position with respect to said table, means carried by said table abutting the upper surfaces of said bottles for correct positioning of the upper portions of said bottles, means for restraining said belt against collapse about the central portion of said machine when said machine is free of bottles, stationary supports for the ends of said belt, a length of contractile flexible strand material disposed in contact with the upper outer surfaces of said bottles during substantially the entire time of contact of said belt with said lower outer surfaces, means restraining said strand material against collapse about the central portion of said machine when said machine is free of bottles, and stationary supports for attachment with the ends of said length of strand material.

4. In a turret-type machine having a rotatable, bottle supporting table with loading and removing regions, for performing operations on bottles provided with locating spuds thereon, a bottle spotting device comprising, in combination, a length of flexible belt disposed above the level of the bottle-supporting table and near the outer edge of said table in a position to abut the outside surfaces of said bottles, said belt extending around said table for a portion of the circumference except in the bottle-loading and bottleremoving regions, stop means carried by said table disposed in the vicinity of the inside periphery of said table for abutment against the locating spuds on said bottles when said bottles are oriented in operative position location, means carried by said table limiting circumferential movement of said bottles out of oriented position with respect to said table, means restraining said belt against collapse about the central portion of said machine when said machine is free of bottles, directional sheaves leading the ends of said length of belt away from said table at the boundaries defining said bottle-loading and bottle-removing regions, stationary supports for attachment with the ends of said length of belt, and tension-applying means disposed between at least one end of said length of belt and the corresponding stationary support for attachment therewith.

5. In a turret-type machine having a rotatable, bottle supporting table with loading and removing regions, for performing operations on bottles provided with locating spuds thereon, a bottle spotting device comprising, in combination, a length of flexible belt disposed above the level of the bottle-supporting table and near the outer edge of said table in a position to abut the lower outside surfaces of said bottles, said belt extending around said table for at least a portion of the circumference but not into the bottle-loading and bottle-removing regions, stop means carried by said table disposed in the vicinity of the inside periphery of said table for abutment against the locating spuds on said bottles when said bottles are oriented in operative position, means carried by said table limiting circumferential movement of said bottles out of oriented position with respect to said table, means carried by said table abutting the upper surfaces of said bottles for correct positioning of the upper portions of said bottles, means restraining said belt against collapse about the central portion of said machine when said machine is free of bottles, directional sheaves leading the ends of said length of belt away from said table at the boundaries defining said bottle-loading and bottle-removing regions, stationary supports for attachment with the ends of said length of belt, tension-applying means dis osed between at least one end of said length of belt and the corresponding stationary support for attachment therewith, a length of flexible strand material disposed in contact with the upper outer surfaces of said bottles during substantially the entire time of contact of said belt with said lower outer surfaces, means restraining said strand material against collapse about the central portion of said machine when said machine is free of bottles, directional sheaves leading the ends of said length of strand material away from said table at the boundaries defining said bottle-loading and bottle-removing regions, stationary supports for attachment with the ends of said length of strand material, and tensionapplying means disposed between at least one end of said length of strand material and the corresponding stationary support for attachment therewith.

6. A bottle spotting device according to claim 5 wherein the means restraining said belt and the means restraining said strand material against collapse about the central portion of said machine comprise elements mounted upon the rotatable turret-table assembly of said machine.

'7. A bottle spotting device according to claim 5 wherein the stop means for abutment against the locating spuds or the bottles comprises an abutment surface and an element extending beyond said abutment surface at a level other than that occupied by said locating spuds and in the direction of the bottles a suificient distance so that outside surface imperfections in the bottles will clear said abutment surface, but insuflicient to prevent said abutment surface from engaging with the locating spuds of the bottles as said bottles are brought into oriented position.

EDWARD N. LICI-ITENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of rec file of this patent: 0rd m the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,608,119 Perchard Nov. 23 1926 2,115,061 Darling Apr. 26 1938 2,293,533 Magnusson Aug. 18 1942 2,528,912 Rappaport et a1 Nov. 7, 1950 

